Tetanus number of cases U.S. 1980-2023| ��ƽ��

Reported cases of tetanus in the United States from 1980 to 2023

Characteristic	Number of reported cases
2023	27
2022	28
2021	17
2020	26
2019	0
2018	0
2017	33
2016	34
2015	30
2014	25
2013	26
2012	37
2011	37
2010	26
2009	18
2008	19
2007	28
2006	41
2005	27
2004	34
2003	20
2002	25
2001	38
2000	35
1999	32
1998	34
1997	42
1996*	-
1995	34
1994	51
1993	48
1992	45
1991	57
1990	64
1989	53
1988	53
1987	48
1986	64
1985	83
1984	74
1983	91
1982	88
1981	72
1980	95

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Release date

December 2025

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Region

United States

Survey time period

1980 to 2023

Supplementary notes

Release date represents the date figures were accessed.
* No data available for 1996

Citation formats

In 2023, there were around 27 cases of tetanus in the United States. The annual number of tetanus cases in the United States has decreased steadily over the past few decades, and in the years 2018 and 2019, there were no reported cases. The decrease in tetanus cases in the United States and worldwide is largely due to high rates of vaccination.

What is tetanus?

Tetanus is an infection caused by bacteria that live in the environment. Spores of tetanus bacteria are often found in soil and dust and enter the body through broken skin, such as puncture wounds. Tetanus cannot be spread from one person to another. One of the most common symptoms of tetanus is a tightening of the jaw muscles, leading tetanus to often be called "lockjaw". Other symptoms include muscle spasms, muscle stiffness, trouble swallowing, seizures, headache, and fever. Like in the United States, cases of tetanus have decreased since the year 1980 in every region around the world. In 2022, there were a total of 6,651 cases of tetanus worldwide. The highest number of cases was found in Africa; however, the year prior, the Eastern Mediterranean reported the most cases.

Tetanus vaccination

Vaccination is the best way to protect against tetanus, and most cases of tetanus in the United States are among people who have not been vaccinated. Multiple vaccinations protect against tetanus as well as other diseases, such as DTap, DT, Tdap, and Td. Tetanus vaccinations are safe and effective, and recommended for people of all ages, with children receiving multiple vaccinations and adults recommended to get vaccinated every 10 years. As of 2022, around 94 percent of one-year-olds in the United States had received the recommended three doses of the combined diphtheria, tetanus toxoid, and pertussis (DTP3) vaccine.